The Wrong Sister is a gripping read with a clever premise. Two sisters swap homes, and things quickly spiral after a break-in at the wrong house. Claire Douglas delivers solid suspense, emotional twists, and a satisfying ending. A few slower moments, but overall a strong and compelling thriller.

Release: August 5, 2025
Author: Claire Douglas
Publisher: Harper Perennial and Paperbacks

Rating: 3.5 ★ 

Tasha and her sister Alice have very different lives—Tasha stays local with her family, while Alice is a globe-trotting scientist. Despite their differences, they trust each other completely. So when Alice offers to look after Tasha’s kids while she and her husband take a break, Tasha feels relieved. But everything changes when Alice and her husband Kyle are brutally attacked—Kyle dies, and Alice ends up in intensive care. As Tasha tries to make sense of the attack, a chilling note arrives saying, “It was supposed to be you.” The sisters’ hidden secrets start to surface, revealing that some family mysteries can be deadly.
This thriller about two very different sisters swapping lives for a week was a pretty engaging read. The story kicks off with the sisters exchanging homes so one can enjoy a break, but things take a dark turn when one sister’s husband is murdered and the other is left fighting for her life. The book is packed with twists and family secrets that kept me guessing about who could be behind the attack. I liked that the story was told from multiple points of view, which added depth to the characters and the mystery.
While it wasn’t the fastest-paced thriller I’ve read, and I figured out some twists early, it still held my interest throughout. Some parts felt a bit slow or confusing, and a few questions were left unanswered, but the overall story was compelling enough to keep me hooked. The ending had a surprising twist, though it wasn’t perfect for me. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with complex family drama, secrets, and unexpected turns, this book is definitely worth checking out—even if it’s not a five-star masterpiece, it’s a solid and enjoyable read.

Favorite Quote:
"when you're a sibling, the bond runs deep, but so do the wounds."

This book draws you in from the beginning with non stop turns and twists.
I kept thinking this person will be it, but that was not the case. Even at the end of the book I was shocked that things turned out the way they did. I feel like I need a part 2

I enjoyed this book. It was my first book by Claire Douglas and I’m definitely planning to read more by her. The pacing of the book was great and it had a good amount of suspense. Definitely a page-turner.

My first book by Claire Douglas. We met Tasha, her husband Aaron, her sister Alice and her husband Kyle. Tasha and Aaron have twin girls. Alice offers to let them holiday in their luxury Venetian apartment,while her and Kyle watch their house and girls. Shortly after, they get there, they receive the news that Alison and Kyle have been attacked in Tasha’s home and tragically Kyle has died. They rush home to their daughters and to support Alice, Then comes an anonymous note, which says “It should have been you ….The book has three POV’s,, Tasha’s, Alice and their mother Jeanette. It’s easy to read, and the plot is full of incidents and the alternating points of view are a good. The twists were very obvious, and my jaw wasn’t on the floor, like most books I have read.

#Netgalley

Douglas delivers a slow burn, chilling tale, that keeps readers simmering with suspicion until the final pages.

This book centers on a woman drawn into her sister’s mysterious life after a tragic accident, and what unfolds is a tangled web of secrets, lies, and betrayal. While the pacing takes its time building momentum, the payoff is worth the wait. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, Douglas delivers an original twist that flips everything on its head.

The Wrong Sister is perfect for fans of domestic suspense who don’t mind peeling back the layers one slow, tantalizing page at a time.

This was my first read with this author and what a ride! The cover and title had gotten my attention from the first time I saw it. The eerie suspenseful display on the cover just made you want to open and devour it – as well as the story unfolded had me second guessing at what I just read. Cant wait to read more from this author. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC #ClaireDouglas #TheWrongSister

This is my first book Claire Douglas and it definitely won’t be the last!! Family drama, twists and turns, so much suspense!! Absolutely loved it!

My opinion is my own and I encourage others to read “The Wrong Sister” I’m not familiar with this author’s work. However, I am a reader who tries to connect with the characters. I didn’t have it with this one. This was not a bad book at all. It was an ok read for me.

My first book from this author and I enjoyed her writing style.

I did like the characters and enjoyed the way they were presented. I felt like the story had good flow and was engaging enough to keep me interested.

I did not necessarily "predict" the twist but also was not super surprised by it as I had suspected parts of it.

Overall it was an entertaining, easy read and I would definitely pick up another book by this author.

Thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC and chance to give my honest opinion

This is a great blend of thriller and family drama. Definitely pick this one up if you are in the mood for a compelling yet gently unfolding read that incorporates multiple points of view and some good twists.

Some highlights for me were the atmospheric settings of Venice and a small town near Bristol, the twin aspect, the swapping of houses for a weekend, the family secrets, stalking, and the murder mystery.

Count me among readers who thought the ending was a bit quick compared to the pacing of the rest of the book. It also tied up a bit too neatly but this seems common with thrillers and did not stop me from enjoying this book or from recommending it.

I received an advance review copy from the publishers through NetGalley.

I've recently found a wonderful author in Claire Douglas and The Wrong Sister was another reason for my admiration to grow! I loved the sister swap plot line and knew something sinister was going to happen to one of them but I picked the wrong sister and I was hooked! While swapped, something terrible happens to one of the sisters and her husband and the reader is thrust into a pulse pounding thrill ride to discover what went wrong! I loved it!

Clair Douglas has done it again! Such a thrilling plot that will keep you turning the pages. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and suspense and it thought this was a great time

Slow burn read.

I didn’t care for the characters that much. There was something about them that I didn’t connect with.
The twist is what saved this book for me. So original!!!!!

Oh, goodness... what did I just read? Wow, I have so many thoughts, so lets just dive right in. Let's start with the characters. Tasha. Oh, Tasha. I think part of why she bothered me so much is that her character is well-written so I found myself caring a lot about what happened to her. With that being said, girl, no... just no. She's so incredibly dumb and naive throughout the whole book that I found her more annoying than anything else. I also really disliked that Tasha's perspective was always in first person but that none of the other characters were written this way. I get that it's a stylistic choice, it's just definitely not my preference. Overall, I really wanted to like this book, but the ending definitely fell flat for me. The plot twists were fairly clever and the whole narrative definitely kept me reading, but when the book was over, I found myself incredibly disappointed. I had more unanswered questions then I wanted and I really think this novel could have benefited from an epilogue or something. Also, anyone with a high sense of justice or morality will find this ending very unsettling. In sum, good, but not great... and maybe not worth your time.

I never read anything by this author and while I didnt care for this book as much. I would be open to reading another one by her to determine if I like her reading style

A twisty, gripping and tense domestic thriller, I devoured this book in one sitting. Also a bit of a family drama, I enjoyed the multiple POVs and learning about the characters and their backgrounds. This book held my attention throughout with me trying (and failing) to guess all the different twists and how the story would end. This was my first Claire Douglas book, and it most certainly will not be my last!

There is more right than wrong with The Wrong Sister. Enjoyed the suspense and was eager to solve the mystery, a book not easily forgotten.

3.75 rounded up.

I wanted to love this one! It hooked me in, then slowed way down, hooked me again and then slowed way down again. I thought most of the middle felt like it kept dragging on, but then the ending felt rushed. There were characters I didn't care about at all, and felt like they didn't add value to the story. The flow of the story was nice and Claire has a great way of painting a picture with her words. The twist at the end was great.

Planning to give other books by Claire a go, I enjoyed her writing style, just this story was a bit of a miss for me.

I would give this a 3.5 star rating.

Pros:
- When it was interesting, it was really interesting.
- the family dynamics were really well done with all the different duality of loyalty.
- good ending

Cons:
- It felt like a lot of lulls and slow bits I had to push through in order to finish the book. About ever quarter it picked back up to then inevitably lull again.
- I wish more science was discussed in the book because, honestly, that's how it is all explained away in the end. It felt almost like a cop out because there just weren't enough crumbs leading up to it.
- kind of wish we had more foreshadowing for the killer because I think that was a missed opportunity.